United
United Airline's new Bombardier CRJ-550.
- United Airlines is taking on American Airlines and Delta Air Lines with a new shuttle route between Newark, New Jersey, and Washington, DC launching March 29.
- The Chicago-based airline plans to compete using its newest premium-oriented aircraft, the Bombardier CRJ-550, a 70-seat designed aircraft that only features 50 seats.
- No other special amenities for the route have been announced yet United faces stiff competition on the route including Amtrak's new nonstop Acela service.
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One of the country's busiest air routes is about to get an upgrade.
For decades, the short flight between New York to Washington, DC has been a staple of air travel in the Northeast, connecting the country's largest economic hub with the seat of political power for decades.
The flight is so short and the demand so high that airlines began offering shuttle services that typically depart every hour on the hour during the week. The shuttle aspect was designed with business travelers in mind offering such amenities as flexibility in schedules, same-day ticketing at the airport, dedicated gates closer to the curbside, and enhanced offerings onboard.
United Airlines is seeking to throw a wrench into the system by offering a shuttle service of its own from a different New York area airport - Newark International - and with a new type of plane aimed specifically at the upper echelon of travelers: the new Bombardier CRJ 550, a regional jet designed with premium customers in mind.
Offering up to 13 hourly departures beginning March 29, with ten on the new plane, the airline will be going head to head with existing operators of the shuttle services Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, as well as Amtrak's new Acela nonstop service.
Take a look to see how United plans to shake up the Northeast shuttle system.